This fall, classroom magic blends with UMW Galleries. University of Mary Washington faculty and staff present their newest exhibition, showcasing their unique artistic visions in a show titled “Practice What You Teach.”
Tucked inside duPont Gallery, ceramics and paintings coat each corner of the room, while statues and woodwork fill the floor. A small television is even mounted on the wall, displaying the beauty of glitch and distortion. In this overflow of creative research, faculty and staff show students, visitors and fellow artists how their lesson plans take shape outside the classroom.
One of those artists is Adjunct Instructor of Studio Art Larry Hinkle ’00, with two pieces on display. “Reading Chaise” combines fabric from a custom upholstery shop with cherry wood Hinkle milled from a fallen tree in his backyard. The long sitting chair, complete with black-and-white cushioning, took months of mock-ups before Hinkle settled on its final design. He wanted the piece to feel both comfortable and graceful — the perfect place to put up one’s feet while diving into a good book. “A chair is only as good as it sits,” he says. “Furniture can be artful.”
From now until Sunday, Oct. 18, the creations of 11 faculty and staff members will accompany those of Hinkle at the “Practice What You Teach” exhibition, showcasing a diverse array of artwork alongside sophisticated woodwork and eccentric banners. Guests are also invited to the Faculty Gallery Talk on Thursday, Oct. 1, from 5 to 6 p.m., in duPont Gallery, where they can hear the artists discuss their research and techniques.